Container with a Thermal Regulating Insert

Abstract

A container with an insert for rapidly lowering the temperature of a heated liquid to an ideal range suitable for human contact and maintaining the liquid in the ideal range for an extended period of time includes an insulated container for holding heated liquid, a thermal regulating insert and means for attaching or stabilizing the insert to the container. The thermal regulating insert has an outer wall made of thermally conductive material and sufficient surface area to promote heat transfer that creates an enclosed chamber. The chamber contains a phase change material for absorbing heat from the heated liquid when the liquid's temperature is higher than the phase change materials melting point. The insert is removably retained in the fluid-reservoir in the container such that the insert is wholly or substantially spaced apart from the walls of the container and stabilized relative to the container.

1 . A container comprising:
 a container body defining a reservoir for holding liquid, said body having an open upper end, a closed bottom and an interior surface defined by a side wall;   a thermal regulating insert adapted to be removably inserted into the reservoir, said insert having a chamber containing a phase change material disposed therein; and   thermal regulating insert attachment means for removably attaching said insert to the container body in the reservoir such that the insert is spaced apart from the side wall of said body.   
     
     
         2 . The container according to  claim 1  including a removable cap for selectively closing the open upper end of the container body and wherein the thermal regulating insert is not connected to the cap. 
     
     
         3 . The container according to  claim 2  wherein the open upper end of said body is circular and the thermal regulating insert attachment means further comprises a collar having an annular ring with an outer surface, and a lip with a diameter greater than the diameter of the open upper end and said lip rests on said open upper end between said removable cap and said open upper end. 
     
     
         4 . The container according to  claim 3  wherein the outer surface conforms to an inner surface of said side wall when said lip is resting on said open upper end. 
     
     
         5 . The container according to  claim 4  wherein said collar further includes a central cap to which said thermal regulating insert is attached such that said insert depends downwardly from said cap, and wherein plural openings through said cap are defined by spokes extending radially from said cap to an inner wall of said annular ring. 
     
     
         6 . The container according to  claim 4  wherein the thermal regulating insert has a distal end and said distal end is space apart from the closed bottom of said body. 
     
     
         7 . The container according to  2  in which the thermal regulating insert attachment means further comprises a collar having an annular ring with an outer surface and wherein the outer surface conforms to an inner surface of said side wall when said collar is inserted into the reservoir to thereby attach the collar to the body. 
     
     
         8 . The container according to  claim 7  wherein said collar further includes a central cap to which said thermal regulating insert is attached such that said insert depends downwardly from said cap, and wherein plural openings through said cap are defined by spokes extending radially from said cap to an inner wall of said annular ring. 
     
     
         9 . The container according to  claim 8  wherein said thermal regulating insert has a lower end that is spaced apart from the bottom wall of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The container according to  claim 2  in which the thermal regulating insert attachment means further comprises a receptacle on the bottom wall of the body, the receptacle including a boss for removably attaching the thermal regulating insert to the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The container according to  claim 10  wherein the thermal regulating insert is attached to the boss with a threaded engagement. 
     
     
         12 . The container according to  claim 10  wherein the thermal regulating insert is attached to the boss with a bayonet engagement. 
     
     
         13 . The container according to  claim 10  wherein the thermal regulating insert has an upper end that is below the cap. 
     
     
         14 . A container comprising:
 a container body defining a reservoir for holding liquid, said body having an open upper end, a closed bottom and an interior surface defined by a side wall;   a thermal regulating insert adapted to be removably inserted into the reservoir, said thermal regulating insert having a chamber containing a phase change material and said insert stabilized relative to said body to eliminate relative movement therebetween;   a cap selectively attachable to the body for selectively opening and closing the open upper end; and   wherein said thermal regulating insert is not attached to the cap and when said insert is in said chamber said insert is entirely spaced apart from said side wall.   
     
     
         15 . The container according to  claim 14  in which the thermal regulating insert is spaced apart from said bottom. 
     
     
         16 . The container according to  claim 14  in which the thermal regulating insert is attached to said bottom 
     
     
         17 . The container according to  claim 14  wherein said insert is stabilized with an annular collar that has an outer surface that engages the side wall of the body. 
     
     
         18 . A container comprising:
 a body defining a reservoir for holding liquid, said body having an open upper end, a closed bottom and an interior surface defined by an insulated side wall, said body having a centerline extending therethrough;   a thermal regulating insert defined by an elongate member having an elongate axis and a phase change material contained in a chamber in the member, said insert removably retained in the reservoir so that the elongate member is substantially coaxially aligned with the centerline through the body and stabilized relative thereto to prevent relative movement between the body and the insert, said insert substantially spaced apart from said side wall; and   a cap selectively attachable to the body for selectively opening and closing the open upper end, wherein said insert is not attached to said cap.   
     
     
         19 . The container according to  claim 18  in which said thermal regulating insert is removably retained in the reservoir with an annular collar that has a surface that engages the insulated side wall. 
     
     
         20 . The container according to  claim 18  in which said thermal regulating insert is removably retained in the reservoir with a receptacle on the closed bottom end.